Looking for a more meaningful career?
Join the team at START Taranaki!
Scroll down for a list of our current vacancies
About our organisation:
START Taranaki is a youth justice programme based in Kaponga, South Taranaki. We work with at-risk Rangatahi ranging from early intervention to the higher end of the youth justice system.
START Taranaki is an exciting place to work, with a strong organisational culture and a legacy of success.
START Taranaki run programmes for Oranga Tamariki throughout the year in tandem with our early intervention programme for Taranaki-only youth, sponsored by the Toi Foundation. We have also begun working with young Wahine through our Oranga Rangatahi/Mana Wahine initiative.
Recently we have expanded our scope, developed an in-house community youth hub where we offer a plethora of work experience and pre-employment skills for our Rangatahi; including a barber shop, recording studio, barista facilities, education space and a gym.
Youth Worker - Core Programme
Kaponga, Taranaki
Community Services & Development
Child Welfare, Youth & Family Services
Full time
Are you looking for an exciting outdoor lifestyle job?
We are looking for new youth workers to join our organisation.
About the role:
As a youth worker on our core programme you will be front line with higher-risk Rangatahi referred to our programme. As such, you will be required to be available for shift work which includes periods of time away from base whilst our isolation phase is running.
You will partake in various activities including tramping, biking, canoeing, bush-craft, beach activities and noho marae.
There may also be occasions where you will need to be available to travel out of town for transition visits for up to two nights each visit.
START Taranaki is a drug free workplace and you will be required to undertake pre-employment drug testing.
Other requirements are a Police Vetting and Oranga Tamariki check, please note, an applicant must pass these before being able to start work.
Key Attributes:
Understanding of and ability to relate to young people
Ability to work with disadvantaged young people and their whanau
Some knowledge of the youth justice sector or a willingness to learn
A level of physical fitness
A positive attitude
Ability to operate as a reliable part of a team
Some experience of working in an outdoor setting is preferable
Knowledge of Te Ao Maori or a willingness to learn
In-house training will be provided for the right applicant as the key attribute we seek is someone eager to make a difference to the lives of vulnerable young people in Aotearoa, which we value above all else.
please email your cover letter and cv to: vacanciesstarttaranaki@gmail.com
Further information for job applicants
Background
S.T.A.R.T Taranaki began development in early 2003 from the vision of Neville Phillips, supported by a small and energetic group of family and friends.
The vision was based largely on the research study Tough is not Enough – Getting Smart about Youth Crime (McLaren, K.L 2000)
The philosophy of S.T.A.R.T Taranaki revolves around 3 phases:
(Isolation) Removing young people from their environment and negative peer influences where they will be able to detox from drug and alcohol usage, will be challenged and will have an opportunity to participate in experiences which differ from their previous life experiences.
(Ora Toa) Staying at the home in Kaponga. During this time intense work on the young people’s plan for transition is happening. They spent time at our hub having some fun learning different trades. E.g. Barista, Barbering training. Learning to express themselves positively through music and art.
(Transition) Placing the young person back into the community in a safe environment, where they continue to be supported to maintain and build on the gains made during the programme.
The model developed is flexible, to allow for variations in the needs of individual youth as well as for variations to meet the demands of the group dynamic. Staff are always challenged and maintain a focus on meeting the needs of the individual youth.
The Programme
S.T.A.R.T Taranaki is a residential service that provides a programme for high risk male youth offenders between 14 - 18 years. The programme meets the need for a Young Man issued with a Supervision with Activity Order or Supervision following residence.
The programme is aimed at identifying individual strategies to help young people manage their anger and behaviour, deal with bullying, identify career options and plan for these, help with self awareness and self esteem, and provide supervision and support that will enhance wellbeing and equip the young person to function as an adult in society.
While S.T.A.R.T Taranaki admission criteria is set out by our primary funder Oranga Tamariki, referrals come via the Youth Justice System.
Quite a large number of youth who have completed our programme continue to rely on us for support for some time following the end of transition. We try to meet these youth’s ongoing needs until they stabilise sufficiently to become fully independent. The time frame involved differs widely.
As well as our core ‘Supervision with Activity’ programme we also run:
START Early – a year long programme for Taranaki male youth who are at a lower level of risk. The core programme staff will be required to assist during the two week isolation phase, generally at the start of the year.
Mana Wahine – runs the same as the START Early programme, with females
Oranga Rangatahi – Generally twice a year, but subject to change. Participates are at risk teens that are not in the police system. This can be either female or male and generally two weeks in duration.
Conclusion
S.T.A.R.T Taranaki is an effective intervention programme working with high risk youth. The programme is held in high esteem by the Principal Youth Court Judge Oranga Tamariki and the New Zealand Police. It is an intensive programme which has a basis in proven research on what works with these high end youth offenders. The design of the programme, the setting and the activities include aspects of life and growing up in New Zealand which we strongly believe are part of every young New Zealander’s birthright.
Healthy positive activities are a focus. Today many young people grow up in the city and never have an opportunity to participate in the types of activities we offer to these young men. Risks on the programme are closely managed. This enables us to offer these young men opportunities to learn about risks and safety.
The youth who come on the S.T.A.R.T Taranaki programme are given the opportunity to experience positive leisure pursuits, learn basic life skills, establish a work ethic and build their self esteem.
The recent restructure of the service means that S.T.A.R.T Taranaki is now able to build more flexibility into the programme. This enables us to customise the content to better meet individual needs and support these young men as they mature into adulthood.